Building up to my first week of college, I was in denial. I would shut down the conversation every time someone around me would bring up leaving. I loved my daily routine, my great group of friends, and the time I would spend with my parents everyday. I didn’t want to think about leaving all of the things I loved behind. The eight hour drive from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Winston Salem, North Carolina was full of emotions. I could no longer be in denial and had to face the truth. Wake was my number one choice and I loved the school but felt I wasn’t ready to leave home and the life I had made in Philly.
For me, running is the most rewarding form of exercise. Everytime I share this with others their immediate reaction is “How?” or “You couldn’t pay me to run a mile”. I’ve also felt that way, until I came to the realization that the hardest part about running is the first mile. Once you get past the first mile, the following miles fly. In the first mile, I’m warming up, and all of the self doubting thoughts control my brain. I’m tired and thinking ahead to how much more distance I have left until I can stop.
My first week of college was tough. I immediately missed home and my parents the second they left. All I could think about was how many more days until I could go home for Thanksgiving and see my friends and family again. I was adjusting to something I wasn’t used to yet, a place where I had no routine developed.
After the first week, I adjusted and had my daily routine down. I fell in love with the school and all it has to offer. I rarely miss home or think about leaving. Getting through the first week of college was a lot like getting through the first mile in a run. After that first mile, my body adjusts and I remember why I love to run. Getting through the first week of college was a lot like getting through the first mile of a run. Once I got past the uncomfortable beginning, I adjusted and remembered why I loved being there. In both college and running, I’ve learned that the hardest part is getting through the unfamiliar beginning and giving yourself time to warm up to something new.